Machine for treating sheet materials



Dec. 30, 1947. D. EDGAR MACHINE FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIALS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor David Edyar' Filed March 22,' 1946 l I I I 1 I l l l I I l i N:

Dec. 30, 1947. D. EDIGAR MACHINE F Filed March 22, 1946 OR TREATING SHEET MATERIALS 4 Sheecis-Sheet 2 Dec. 30, 1947. D. EDGAR 2, 3 3 MACHINE FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIALS Filed March 22, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet s lnvenfor Dec. 30, 1947. Y D. EDGAR 2,433,352

MACHINE FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIALS Filed March 22, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I Inventor [92 F252 paul'cli'ayar' T 1 5 hi Orney I v Mum Patented Dec. 30, 1947 MACHINE FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIALS David Edgar, Lynn, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation,

Flemington,

N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application March 22, 1946, Serial No. 656,317

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in maing, for example, is sometimes repeated three times in a tannery and almost always is performed twice for each work piece. Fleshing machines and many of the other machines conventionally perform an operation on one half of the skin after which the operator turns the skin around for work to be done on the other half. The reversal of the skin, the second feeding operation and the final withdrawal of the treated work piece are steps which consume considerable time and effort on the part of the operator. In view of the large number of such operations presently required in a tannery there is a need for machines in which the work performed on each work piece consumes a minimum of time; in

which the number of operations required to handle each work piece is reduced; and and in which the handling is of such nature as to be convenient and safe for the operator.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved multiple cylinder or roll machine capable of performing a complete operation on a work piece of sheet material during a single passage of the work piece through the machine, different portions of the work piece being treated simultaneously and the arrangement of the machine parts being convenient as well as safe for the operator.

It is an important feature of the invention to provide a machine in which the work piece may be hung over a bed roll within convenient reach of the operator and from which bed roll different portions of the work piece are presented for simultaneous treatment. Another feature comprises an arrangement of two sets of cooperating vention will now be described in detail in the 55 specification and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the front of a machine in which the present invention is embodied, portions of the structure being broken away for purposes of illustration;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the side of the machine at which the mechanical power is applied;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III of Fig. 1 with a work piece introduced and positioned for subsequent treatment; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of Fig. 1 but with the parts in work treating positions.

The illustrated machine comprises a base plate i6 and vertical end plates 12 and I4 provided with suitable bearings for two rotatable work treating rolls l6 and 18. The work treating roll it is located above the work treating roll I8 and both of these rolls are provided with work treating tools such as blades suitable for performing the operation desired. The end plates 12 and [4 of the frame are braced and rigidly joined together by horizontal frame members or H-sections 26 and 22 (Figs. 3 and 4). The base plate i0 approximately midway its length is provided with a vertical bracket 24 (Fig. 1) and also the smaller brackets 26 and 28 (Fig. 3) for purposes subsequently to be described. The frame members 20 and 22 not only serve as stiffening members for the frame but also conveniently serve as supporting members for two emery brick These brick grinders are grinders 30 and 32. conventional devices used for sharpening blades on machines of the type herein described and accordingly they are not herein shown and described in detail since they form no part of the present invention.

At one end of the base plate It and exterior to the end plate I2 is formed an angle bracket 36 (Figs. 1 and 2) serving as a support and bearing for one end of a short shaft 36. The other end of the shaft 36 is supported for rotation within a'boss 38 integral with the lower portion of the end plate l2. Keyed to the shaft 36 are three pulleys ll), 42 and 44 (Figs. 1 and 2). Motive power is transmitted to the machine by a belt 46 which drives the pulley in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 2. A second shaft 48 (Fig. 1) is mounted to rotate within a bearing 5-0 of the vertical bracket 24 and also within a boss 52 of the end plate 12. This shaft 48 is driven in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 2 by a belt 54 adapted to transmit power from the driving pulley 44 to a pulley 56 keyed to the shaft 48. Also keyed to the shaft 48 is a small pulley 58 which serves as a driving pulley for an endless belt 60, this belt in turn serving to drive two small pulleys 62 and 64 in opposite directions as shown by the arrows in Fig. 2. The belt 60 also runs over an idler pulley 66 mounted on a short shaft 68 protruding from the end plate I2. The small pulley 62 is keyed to a shaft 10 passing through an upper discharge roll 12. The pulley 64 is keyed to a shaft I4 passing through a lower discharge roll I6. Both discharge rolls I2 and i6 are preferably provided with a rubber covering and it will be understood that the shafts I and I4 are suitably journaled for rotation in the two end plates I2 and I4. One end of the upper discharge roll I2 is provided with a gear 80 (Figs. 1 and 2) having teeth of extended length for a purpose to be described. The lower discharge roll I6 is provided with a gear 82, also having teeth of extended length. The two dis,- charge rolls I2 and I6 are so related that a substantial clearance exists between them. This clearance should be of such a dimension that a doubled work, piece would not be adversely affected due to a folding or other undesirable action.

At a level somewhat above that of shaft 48 and journaled within, the bosses 92 and 94 of the end plates I2 and I4 is mounted the longer shaft 90. Cranks 96 and 98 are keyed to the ends of the shaft 90-, as shown in Fig. 1, and at the end I00 (Fig. 2) of the crank 96, is pivoted a link I02 joined to a bell crank I04 by a pivoted connection I06. The bell crank I04 is mounted to rotate on a short shaft I08 protruding from the end plate I 2. A rubber covered bed roll H0 is mounted on a shaft I I2 one end of which is journaled in the upper end of the bell crank I04. The roll .0. carries a, gear II4 having teeth II 6 of extended length. The crank 98 at the left-hand end of the machine is connected to link I20 which in turn is pivoted to a bell crank I22, these last two elements being similar in all respects to the link I02 and bell crank I04 at the other end of the machine, the upper end of the bell crank I22 serving as a bearing for the left-hand end of the shaft II2 passing through the rubber bed roll H0.

The shaft 48 has keyed thereto a conical clutch member I30 provided with an annular groove I32 (Figs. 1 and 3) into which extend short pins I34 and I36- mounted in the upper ends of the arms of a forked vertical lever I40 which is secured to a shaft I42 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings in the two brackets 26 and 28. A treadle I44 is carried by and keyed to one end of the treadle shaft I42. A pin I46 extends from the bracket I40 parallel to the shaft I42 and another pin I48 extends from the bracket 24 parallel with the pin I46. A spring I50 is mounted in tension between the two pins I46 and I48. Freely rotatable on the shaft 48- is a clutch member I52 (Fig. 1) bearing a gear I54 and a thrust ring I56 is pinned at I'I to the shaft 48, preventing movement of the clutch member I52 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1. A second ring I59 is pinned to the shaft 48 and extends within a chamber I6I of the clutch member I52 to aid in retaining the latter in place. A gear I60 is placed in position meshed with the gear I54 and keyed to the shaft 90. The treadle shaft I42 has keyed thereto a second bracket or arm I62 having a right angle hook I64 (Fig. 1) at its upper end. A circular cammember I66, which may also be termed a stop member, is keyed at I68 to the shaft 90 in such position as to cooperate with the hook I64 of the arm I62 in a manner to be described. This cam member has two spaced recesses I 63 and I65 (Fig. 3), each of said recesses having one square shoulder and one curved shoulder as can be seen in Fig. 1. Near each end of shaft, 99 but within the end plates I2 and I4 are keyed cam members I and I82 (Fig. 1). These cam members are similar in configuration and their shape is shown by thecam member I82 in Fig. 4, As will be seen, each cam member is cylindrical for the largest part of its circumference and is provided with a single projection I84.

Each end of the machine is provided with a hydraulic or pressure fluid mechanism (Fig. 1), the right-hand mechanism being shown at I and the left-hand mechanism at I92. Since these mechanisms and their linkages are similar only one of them need be referred to herein in detail. A sectional view of the mechanism I92 is shown in Fig. 4. This mechanism comprises a cylinder in which a piston 200 is arranged to reciprocate and which is connected to a piston rod 202. The range of travel of the piston 200 is determined by two bosses 204 and 206 located within the cylinder. The piston rod 292 extends through the boss 206 (Fig. 4) and is joined at 2I0 (Fig.v 3) to a pivoting link 2.I2 linked at 2I4 to one arm 216. of abell crank lever 2I8. This bell crank lever is mounted to journal on a short shaft 220 (Fig. 3) extending from the end plate I4 and provides a bearing for one end of a shaft 224 supporting a second rubber covered bed roll 222. As will be understood, the bed roll 222 is supported at the other end of the machine by a bearing formed in one arm of a bell crank 226 (Figs 1 and 2), which is similar to the bell crank 2I8. Journaled in the upper end of each bell crank lever 2I8, 226 is a small diameter roll 230. The rubber bed roll 222 has associated therewith a gear 232 having teeth Of extended length. As will be understood, the gear 4 of the bed roll H0, is in the same plane as the gear 80 of the discharge roll I2 and the gear 232 of the bed roll 222 is also in the same plane as the gear 82 of the discharge roll I6. The teeth of the latter four gears are of extended length for the reason that the work being treated may vary in thickness and the long gear teeth insure proper meshing despite such variation. The hydraulic device I92 (Fig. 4) is provided with ports 240 and 242, one at each end of the cylinder and also a manifold 244 extending lengthwise of the cylinder. This manifold 244 has a long bore 246 provided with a port 248 through, which fluid under pressure may enter from a convenient source, and with two exhaust ports 250 and 252. A valve member having lands 254 and 256 on a valve rod 258 is closely fitted for sliding movement within the bore 246. The rod 258 extends out through one end of the manifold 244 and is joined by means of a link 260 at 262 and 264 to one arm of a bell crank 266. The bell crank 266 is mounted for rotation on a short shaft 210 extending from the end plate I4 and the shorter leg of the bell crank 266 bears a pin 2T2 arranged for movement in a slot 214 in the upper end of a curved lever 216. Lever 216 is mounted for rotation on a short shaft 218 extending from the end plate I4 and the lower end of the lever 276 is provided with a pin 286. A pin 282 (Fig. 3) extends from the end wall I4 and a coil spring 284 is mounted in tension between the two pins 280 and 282. Near the upper end of the curved lever 216 a roller 290 is journaled and is so located as to engage the cam I82. As aforementioned, these parts are duplicated at the other or right-hand end of the machine.

The work treating rolls I6 and I8 are rotated in opposite directions by a belt drive. As stated above, the mechanical power is transmitted to the machine by means of the belt 46. Pulley 42 is therefore rotated in the direction shown by the arrow in Big. 2 and a crossed belt 294 is mounted thereon to rotate a shaft 29$ in the reverse direction by means of a small pulley 298. The shaft 296 also carries keyed thereto a large pulley 308 for driving an endless belt 362, this belt engaging the pulley 304 keyed to the shaft 3% of the upper work treating r011 I6 and also the pulley 398 keyed to the shaft 3H] of the lower work treating roll I8.

The upper work treating roll It is provided with a removable metal cover 3I2 (Figs. 3 and I) and this may carry a lower trough-like portion 3M for removing waste products. One side or the cover 3I2 is provided with a pipe line 3I6 having orifices SIS through which water may be directed upon the treating roll It. This pipe line 3I6 may extend out through the end plate I2, as shown at 328 in Fig. 2. The lower work treating roll I8 is also provided with a trough-like member 322 of somewhat different configuration. One side of the member 322 is provided with a pipe line 324 having orifices 326 for directing water against the lower treating roll I8. This pipe line 325 may extend through the end wall I2, as shown at 328 in Fig. 2. Waste material may be removed from the two troughs by conduits not shown in the drawings. The upper end of the lower trough or cover member 322 is extended at $36 to form a guide 'means for work pieces discharged from between the discharge rolls I2 and It. An inclined platform or table 332 is mounted in a suitable manner on the machine frame in alinement with the extended portion 335 of the lower trough member 322. Fig. 2 shows a suitable bracket 334 by means of which one end or portion of the platform 332 is supported.

In the specific embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, both purely mechanical power and power by application of fluid pressure are utilized. Because of its flexibility in adapting it to the situation at hand, such an arrangement is preferred. It is apparent, however, that various arrangements may be used for the applica tion of power without departing from the principles of operation herein disclosed.

In operation the shaft 63 will be constantly running because of the power applied through belt 46, pulleys 40 and I l, belt 54 and pulley 5%. Figs. 2 and 3 show the machine parts in open position-that is-in position for receiving a fresh work piece for treatment. The workman places the work piece 400 over the bed roll I It with substantial portions thereof extending down both sides of the roll, as shown in Fig. 3. The shaft 48, work treating rolls I6 and I B as well as the discharge rolls I2 and "I5 are constantly running in the directions shown by the arrows because of the direct belt and pulley drives from the shaft 36. The operator steps on the treadle I I I with the result that clutch member I32 (Fig. 1) will move to the right and engage clutch member I52 thereby driving the shaft 98 through gears I54 and I60. In moving the clutch member I39 to the right the hook I64 emerges from the recess I65 in the oircularmember I35 and permits the shaft9fl to rotate. As the operator releases the treadle I44 promptly after depressing it, the clutch 6. remains engaged because of the engagement of the hook I64 with the exterior surface IB'I of the cylindrical member I66. Resiliency of the clutch facing or lining may serve to aid in such engagement. After the shaft 90 has rotated one-half a revolution the hook I64 will slip into the opposite recess I63 bringing about the disengagement of the clutch and stopping rotation of the shaft 953. This clutch and stop arrangement is conventional but it can be clearly seen that each time the treadle I44 is depressed and released the shaft 90 will be rotated through one-half of a revolution and the machine will be automatically brought to a stop. As stated above, the operator desiring to treat the work piece, steps on the treadle I44. The result is that the cranks 9t and 98 will rotate 180 from their positions, as shown by crank 96 in Fig. 2. This will turn the upper ends of the bell cranks I04 and I22 toward the work treating roll I6 and mesh the teeth of' gear II i with the teeth of gear and the work piece tilt will commence to be worked upon by the blades of the work treating roll it. That half revolution of the shaft Q0 will also cause the projections of the two cam members I86 and IE2 to engage their corresponding rollers and lower the valve member lands 254 and 256 of mechanism Hi2 and the lands of mechanism IBt into their positions as shown in Fig. 4. The result will be (taking mechanism I92 as an example of the operation of mechanism I90 as well) that pressure fluid entering at port 248 will pass through the port 2453 and push the piston 265 into its uppermost position. The lower bed roll 222 will, therefore, hold one portion of the work piece 4&8 against the work treating roll I8 and also press the work piece against the lower discharge roll 16, as shown by the dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 4. The teeth of gears 232 and 82 will mesh, driving bed roll 222 counterclockwise as shown by the arrow in Fig. 4. As a consequence, different portions of the work piece M30 are treated simul-- taneously and the central portion of the work piece will bend or form a loop and be discharged between the two discharge rolls I2 and I5. After completion of the treatment of that entire particular work piece the piece will slide down the table 332 into some convenient receptacle, not shown.

During the above-mentioned operation, the parts of the machine move automatically in a definite sequence. The bed roll 222 is not permitted to come in contact with the work until the work has traveled over the bed roll lit a distance preferably somewhat in excess of the distance between points X and Y (Fig. 4.) on the treating rolls I 6 and I8 respectively. This is ac,

complished by controlling the flow of fluid to the under side of the pistons in the fluid pressure mechanisms I90 and I92 and also because of the contour of the cams I80 and I82. The result is that the work treating roll I5 will treat the trailing half or substantial portion of the work piece and when the leading edge of that half or portion has reached or slightly passed the point Y, the treating roll I B will begin to treat the portion not passed nor to be passed in contact with the tools of roll I6. From that time, the treating rolls it and It will work simultaneously and the work piece will be ejected fully treated. The pressure of the fluid in mechanisms I98 and I92 should be such as to hold the roll 222 in working position with sufficient firmness to render effective the particular type of tools used. In order to prepare the machine for reception of the next work piece the workman merely steps,

tions, as shown in Figs. 2. and 3. During the latter half revolution of shaft 90 (terminated by the hook I64 entering into the recess I65), the cams I89 and IE2 will rotate to positions (see the position of cam I82 in Fig. 3) whereby the action of, horizontal coil springs 284, 285 (Fig. 1) will lift the valve lands controlling the pistons of the fluid. pressure mechanisms 19%. and [92. Fig. 4 shows, by means of dash lines, the raised positions of lands 254 and 25$.v While so positioned, the fluid pressure will enter through ports 2'43 and 242 and lower the piston 283.. As a consequence, the bed roll 222 is moved to the open position by the downward travel of the pistons in both fluid pressure mechanisms I99 and H22 and this motion may be relatively rapid, if so desired. It is preferred, however, to regulate the speed of motion and this can be done by using throttling valves (not shown in the drawings) for the fluid exhaust passages of mechanisms E90 and I92. Obviously, such passages may be designed for a predetermined speed thereby eliminating the use of regulating valves. Simultaneously with the outward swing of bed roll 222, the bed roll ill} will swing outwardly because of the action of cranks 96 and 98 and their associated linkages.

The structure of the machine is such that it need not be installed in a position beneath the level of the operator but may be on the same level with him. The operator approaches the machine from the side and is enabled to place work in the machine in a simple as well as convenient manner. The time of treatment for each work piece is minimized as each piece is handled only once for the given operation to be performed. It should also be noted that the parts of the machine most dangerous to life and limb are located in positions remote from the operator those parts are the innermost parts of the machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for treating sheet material, two work treating rolls, a discharge roll adjacent to each work treating roll, a first bed roll at one side of said two treating rolls and adapted to hold a portion of a work piece in engagement with one of said treating rolls and its adjacent discharge roll, and a second bed roll for holding another portion of the said work piece in engagement with the other treating roll and its adjacent discharge roll, the two discharge rolls being arranged upon rotation in opposite directions to bend and discharge, the work piece between them,

2. In a machine for treating sheet material, two sets of cooperating rolls, each set includinga work treating roll, a discharge roll and a bed roll, the discharge roll of one set being adjacent to and above the discharge roll of the other set, and means for moving each bed roll into and away from its operative position with respect to the other rolls of its set.

3. In a machine for treating sheet material, two sets of cooperating rolls, each set including a work treating roll, a discharge roll and a bed roll, the discharge roll of one set being adjacent to and above the discharge roll of the, other set, means for guiding sheet material from between the two discharge rolls, and means for moving assesses each bed roll into, and away. from its operative position with. respect to the. other rolls of its. set.

4. In, a machine for treating sheet material, two sets of cooperating rolls, each set including a work treating roll, a discharge roll and a bed roll, one set being located above the other, means for moving the bed roll of the upper set into operative position with respect to the other rolls of its set, and separate means for subsequently moving the bed roll of the lower set into its operative position with respect to the other rolls of its set.

5. In a machine for treating sheet material, two work treating rolls, a discharge roll adjacent to each work treating roll, a first bed roll at one side of said two treating rolls and translatable from a loading position to a position for holding a portion of a work piece in engagement with one of said treating rolls and its adjacent discharge roll, and a second bed roll translatable from an inactive position to a position for holding another portion of the said work piece in engagement with the other treating roll and its adjacent discharge roll, the translation of said second bed roll being effected by fluid pressure means automatically controlled, and the two discharge rolls being arranged upon rotation in opposite directions to bend and discharge the work piece between them.

6. In a machine for treating sheet material, two work treating rolls arranged one above the other, a discharge roll adjacent to each work treating roll, a first bed ml for holding a portion of a work piece in engagement with one of said treating rolls and its adjacent discharge roll, and a second bed roll for holding another portion of the said work piece in engagement with the lower treating roll and its adjacent discharge roll, the two discharge rolls being arranged upon rotation in opposite directions to bend and discharge the work piece between them.

'7. In a machine for treating sheet material, two sets of cooperating rolls, each set including a work treating roll, a discharge roll and a bed roll, the discharge roll of one set being just above the discharge roll of the other set for the discharge of a double thickness of sheet material between them, and means for moving first one bed roll into its operative position with respect to the rolls of its set and for then moving the other bed roll into its operative position with respect to the rolls of its set.

8. In a machine for treating sheet material, two sets of cooperating rolls, each set including a work treating roll, a discharge roll and a bed roll, one set being located above the other, means for moving the bed roll of the upper set into operative position with respect to the other rolls of its set, and separate means for automatically moving the bed roll of the lower set into its operative position with respect to the other rolls of its set at a predetermined time subsequent to the initiation of operation of the upper set.

9. In a machine for treating sheet material, two sets of cooperating rolls, each set including a work treating roll, a discharge rol and a bed roll, the discharge roll of one set being adjacent to and above the discharge roll of the other set, and means for moving each bed roll into its operative position with respect to the other rolls of its set in a predetermined sequence.

DAVID EDGAR. 

